With the game coming up at Wrigley I am wondering why they cant have a football game at US Cellular. Pretty sure it would fit better than Wrigley. We could take out the fence in right field and the first row of pinic tables in the bulpen bar to make more room. Even a NIU game there would generate a little buzz. I would definitly go to a NIU game there. I would never travel to Dekalb to watch NIU, did not graduate from there. Also a hockey game at the cell would be cool too, even if it was the Wolves. Preferable the Hawks. Would this not generated a little $$ for the white sox as well?

soltrain21

11-19-2010, 02:18 PM

Not nearly as noteworthy.

LoveYourSuit

11-19-2010, 02:32 PM

NU would be lucky to draw 20K at US Cellular Field. Who are we kidding.

Besides, my understanding is that there was no way in fitting a football field at the Cell when the park opened in 1991. Even less today being that the fences in the OF were brought in and seats added down the lines.

I don't think you can fit it.

Johnny Mostil

11-19-2010, 02:39 PM

NU would be lucky to draw 20K at US Cellular Field. Who are we kidding.

Besides, my understanding is that there was no way in fitting a football field at the Cell when the park opened in 1991. Even less today being that the fences in the OF were brought in and seats added down the lines.

I don't think you can fit it.

Reading the Parking Lot thread, I see there's a question of how well Wrigley can fit a football field . . .

Seriously, I don't get the fascination with watching football at a baseball park. Does anybody really pine for, say, the Dodgers to return to the Coliseum?

Edit: twitter.com/SoxMachine reminds me 115K attended a baseball exhibition at the Coliseum a few years ago. So I stand corrected!

JermaineDye05

11-19-2010, 02:45 PM

I am wondering why they cant have a football game at US Cellular.

Because it's a baseball field.

ewokpelts

11-19-2010, 02:49 PM

a gentleman named roger bossard would say "HELL NO!". and then it wont go any further

Nellie_Fox

11-19-2010, 02:50 PM

Why do people want football and/or hockey destroying the beautiful turf at USCF? Just so you can see it in a park you like better? Just say no to football and hockey in your ballpark.

doublem23

11-19-2010, 03:10 PM

Why do people want football and/or hockey destroying the beautiful turf at USCF? Just so you can see it in a park you like better? Just say no to football and hockey in your ballpark.

:thumbsup:

TheOldRoman

11-19-2010, 03:14 PM

It would never happen, and that is for good reason. The only reason the UI/NU game is at the Urinal is that it is noteworthy because it is such a "historic" venue. Up until the Hawks' Winter Classic, the outdoor games were played in football stadiums. Playing at the Urinal was a unique situation, so they did it there. Of course, the next year the Winter Classic was played in Fenway. It's almost certain all future ones will be in football stadiums. So, playing football or hockey on a baseball field is stupid under any circumstances, but is only newsworthy if it is done at a stadium which is very old and world famous.

DumpJerry

11-19-2010, 05:01 PM

a gentleman named roger bossard would say "HELL NO!". and then it wont go any further

Bingo. That's the answer. The same reason the Cubs won't be able to use Comiskey while they renovate The Urinal. Roger does not want too much wear and tear on his lawn.

Why do people want football and/or hockey destroying the beautiful turf at USCF? Just so you can see it in a park you like better? Just say no to football and hockey in your ballpark.
My feelings exactly. But when you're a baseball team saddled with some real bad contracts (Soriano, Zamrano, Fukudome) and a $200,000,000 repair bill, being offered a few million to host a football game becomes attractive.

RedHeadPaleHoser

11-19-2010, 05:27 PM

But when you're a baseball team saddled with some real bad contracts (Soriano, Zamrano, Fukudome) and a $200,000,000 repair bill, being offered a few million to host a football game becomes attractive.

Same reason you offer summer concerts, hockey events, etc. All for the ambience; the condition of your playing surface be damned.

As I said in another thread, this AFTER they hired Bossard to fix their field due to the crown and drainage....and they continue to **** on it. Screw them.

Foulke You

11-20-2010, 01:22 AM

It's my understanding that the football field barely fits at Wrigley for Saturday's game. The Big 10 is making the offensive team go towards one specific end zone for the whole game because the other one was deemed "too dangerous" because of the lack of space.

I think Comiskey has enough space for a football field because there is a bit more foul ground and room behind home plate at our park than Wrigley has. However, as others have pointed out, why would we want it there? I guess maybe if I was an NU or Illini fan, I might feel differently.

DSpivack

11-20-2010, 10:07 AM

The only way I ever liked this idea was the cockamamie scheme Sam Smith had before Soldier Field was gutted; wrap the upper deck of Comiskey completely around and move the Bears in there, while renovating Soldier Field and have the iconic columns and location as an ideal setting for a new baseball stadium. Like all Sam Smith schemes, it wasn't too realistic but it sure was entertaining.

Red Barchetta

11-20-2010, 11:21 AM

I remember how they used those horrible multi-purpose parks in the 70s. Baseball one day, football the next, a rock concert mixed in, etc.

You would see football lines on the baseball grass and patched infields on the football fields. Torn up turf/grass from the concert the night before. :scratch:

I guess owners/fans had to suffer through this era as a learning experience and with the exception of a few outdated ballparks/fields, i.e. Oakland, Tampa, Toronto, Minnesota (Vikings Dome), I like the way MLB and the NFL have things lined up.

I see how a hockey game or occassional college football game could draw a crowd at Wrigley or Fenway. However no reason for The Cell to host such an event. If the Blackhawks play an annual outside game, Soldier Field is the best venue to support it.

Domeshot17

11-20-2010, 05:39 PM

doesn't matter, a football game at USCF would not draw locally and it wouldn't draw TV ratings. I mean an NIU game, really? Why go through all the work of turning the cell into a football field so 12000 people can go watch?

chisoxfanatic

11-20-2010, 06:57 PM

doesn't matter, a football game at USCF would not draw locally and it wouldn't draw TV ratings. I mean an NIU game, really? Why go through all the work of turning the cell into a football field so 12000 people can go watch?
It would draw huge ratings at least locally if Notre Dame were involved. But, I doubt they'd want to play in a smaller stadium.

mjmcend

11-20-2010, 07:42 PM

It would draw huge ratings at least locally if Notre Dame were involved. But, I doubt they'd want to play in a smaller stadium.

Not sure if ND (or anyone) will play in the Cell, but ND is playing Miami in Chicago in 2012 at Soldier Field which is substantially smaller than ND Stadium.

Fenway Park was home to 2 other NFL teams - Redskins and Boston Yanks ( now Indianapolis Colts) along with the Patriots in the AFL

When the Patriots played there - they put hay bales in the bullpens to catch receivers who would fly over the fence

EDIT: Was wondering about this, asked a question here, just read wiki instead. The Angels played there in their inaugural season at LA's Wrigley Field [near USC, not the greatest of neighborhoods today] which happened to be located on Avalon Avenue. Oddly enough, Wrigley at the time owned all of Catalina Island [this is pretty surprising to me, it's been a popular getaway destination for Los Angelenos for a long time] and the Cubs held spring training there, in their own little stadium called Wrigley Field, which was in Catalina's largest [only?] town, coincidentally enough called Avalon.

Foulke You

11-21-2010, 12:53 AM

It would draw huge ratings at least locally if Notre Dame were involved.
I could see a Notre Dame/Purdue Boilermaker game drawing pretty well given the relative close proximity of The Cell to the Indiana border. It would be pretty easy for students of both schools to make the trek to 35th and Shields and there are a lot of Alumni from both schools in the Chicago area.

Here is a question to throw out there. Does JR have final approval of any events that happen at our ballpark? Technically, the State of Illinois owns the ballpark. If the state decided they wanted the revenue, could they "rent" out Sox Park for a football game against the wishes of Sox ownership?

Daver

11-21-2010, 01:05 AM

Here is a question to throw out there. Does JR have final approval of any events that happen at our ballpark? Technically, the State of Illinois owns the ballpark. If the state decided they wanted the revenue, could they "rent" out Sox Park for a football game against the wishes of Sox ownership?

No.

Nellie_Fox

11-21-2010, 01:06 AM

Here is a question to throw out there. Does JR have final approval of any events that happen at our ballpark? Technically, the State of Illinois owns the ballpark. If the state decided they wanted the revenue, could they "rent" out Sox Park for a football game against the wishes of Sox ownership?Part of their lease is that the White Sox retain complete veto power over any other use of the ballpark. The state cannot let anyone use USCF without the Sox' consent.

TheCommander

11-21-2010, 03:31 PM

http://media.smithsonianmag.com/images/sodfather_apr08_388.jpg

"GET OFF MY LAWN!"

Fenway

11-21-2010, 03:38 PM

http://www.isfauthority.com/

doublem23

11-21-2010, 04:04 PM

http://media.smithsonianmag.com/images/sodfather_apr08_388.jpg

"GET OFF MY LAWN!"

:rolling:

Marqhead

11-21-2010, 04:26 PM

http://media.smithsonianmag.com/images/sodfather_apr08_388.jpg

"GET OFF MY LAWN!"

That is just phenomenal work right there.

gobears1987

11-21-2010, 04:48 PM

http://media.smithsonianmag.com/images/sodfather_apr08_388.jpg

"GET OFF MY LAWN!"

As a Purdue alum, The Sodfather might make an exception for ND-Purdue.

Daver

11-21-2010, 05:20 PM

http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/daver/sodfather2.jpg

Maybe we should make this a tag.

esbrechtel

11-21-2010, 10:40 PM

http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/daver/sodfather2.jpg

Maybe we should make this a tag.

:kneeslap:

ewokpelts

11-22-2010, 10:54 AM

Bingo. That's the answer. The same reason the Cubs won't be able to use Comiskey while they renovate The Urinal. Roger does not want too much wear and tear on his lawn.

My feelings exactly. But when you're a baseball team saddled with some real bad contracts (Soriano, Zamrano, Fukudome) and a $200,000,000 repair bill, being offered a few million to host a football game becomes attractive.add no hockey to the list. both wrigley and fenway's playing surfaces were damaged by the NHL winter classic setup.

TheCommander

11-22-2010, 08:23 PM

http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/daver/sodfather2.jpg

Maybe we should make this a tag.

:thumbsup:

TDog

11-22-2010, 09:28 PM

I have always considered New Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field too good for football.

Huisj

11-22-2010, 11:52 PM

Playing around with the distance measurement tool on google maps, it's real real hard to figure out how you'd fit a football field in there. It's not the most precise way to measure it, but considering that you need a little cushion around the edges of the field, it doesn't really seem possible at all.